- Analyst Charlie Bilello said 13.1% of U.S. credit card balances are now 90+ days delinquent.
- Student loan balances 90+ days delinquent reached 10.3%, the highest since 2020.
- Global Markets said roughly $171 billion in student loan debt is now 90+ days delinquent.
U.S. household debt stress is rising again as late payments climb across credit cards, student loans, and auto loans. Charlie Bilello said 13.1% of credit card balances are now at least 90 days delinquent, marking the highest level since 2011.
The pressure is also spreading beyond credit cards. Student loan delinquencies have snapped back after pandemic-era protections ended, while auto loan delinquencies have reached a record high. Frank Luntz said Americans have now hit decade-high delinquency rates across several major debt categories.
Credit Card Stress Hits 2011 High
Charlie Bilello’s chart showed credit card delinquencies rising sharply from the low levels seen after 2021. The blue line climbed to 13.12% in early 2026, moving back toward levels last seen after the financial crisis period.
That increase points to growing pressure on revolving credit users. Credit cards often carry high interest rates, so missed payments can build up quickly when consumers rely more on borrowing to cover expenses.
Source: X
The chart also showed home equity revolving balances and mortgages staying much lower. Mortgage delinquencies stood near 1.09%, while home equity revolving balances were near 0.95%.
That gap shows the current stress is concentrated more in unsecured and consumer-facing debt. Credit cards remain the clearest warning signal in the chart, as the delinquency line has climbed for several years.
Student Loans Snap Back
Student loan delinquencies also jumped. Bilello said 10.3% of student loan balances are now 90+ days delinquent, the highest level since 2020.
Global Markets added that roughly $171 billion in federal student loan debt is now at least 90 days delinquent, citing calculations using New York Fed data. The chart showed a sharp rebound after years when student debt was quiet on credit reports.
Source: X
That spike followed the end of pandemic-era repayment protections and the return of delinquency reporting. Global Markets said about 2.6 million borrowers were pushed into default in early 2026.
The student loan chart shows why the jump looks so sudden. Reported delinquent balances fell close to zero during the protection period, then surged back toward record territory once missed payments appeared again.
Auto Loans Reach Record Delinquency
Auto loans are also showing strain. Bilello said 5.6% of auto loan balances are now 90+ days delinquent, the highest level on record.
The green line in the chart has climbed steadily since 2021. Unlike student loans, the auto loan rise was gradual, showing that pressure had been building for several years.
Higher car prices, elevated borrowing costs, and stretched household budgets may have made repayment harder for some borrowers. Auto loans can also turn stressful faster when monthly payments consume a larger share of income.
The combined charts show a more fragile consumer credit picture. Credit card delinquencies are at their highest since 2011; student loan defaults have returned quickly, and auto loan delinquencies have reached a new record.
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